Hobert Gives Huskies a Run for the Money : Washington: Quarterback’s 60-yard touchdown burst highlights lackluster 27-10 victory over Wisconsin.

The Washington Huskies won their 16th game in a row Saturday with a different approach.

They got a 60-yard touchdown run from their starting quarterback, Billy Joe Hobert, in the first quarter but otherwise the running game sputtered in a 27-10 victory over Wisconsin.

If the second-ranked Huskies (2-0) are going to be successful this season, they are going to have to rely on something else besides Hobert’s running. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior said he was dead tired after his run.

“After I got to the sideline, I asked myself, ‘Why did I do that?’ ” Hobert said. “Everybody made fun of me after the game in the locker room. They told me it was a nasty run.”

Hobert’s touchdown came on a third-and-one play.

“You don’t usually get a big run from the quarterback there,” Washington Coach Don James said.

“It’s a short-yardage situation. But the seas parted for him.”

Hobert also passed for a touchdown in the opening quarter. But the Huskies, who were 32-point favorites, were unimpressive in a tuneup for next Saturday’s game against No. 11 Nebraska. Washington beat the Cornhuskers, 36-21, at Lincoln last season.

“As a team, we’re improved a little bit, but not enough to beat Nebraska,” Hobert said. “If we play like this next week, I probably won’t be talking to the press after the game.”

Said James: “I would guess if we played Nebraska last year with this team, we’d be in for a long night. We were a lot more experienced last year.”

The Badgers (0-1) held Washington sophomore standout Napoleon Kaufman to 43 yards in seven carries. A frustrated Kaufman was ejected after being called for a personal foul in the third quarter.

Hobert completed 17 of 29 passes for 185 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to Joe Kralik in the first quarter.

Mark Brunell, most valuable player in the Rose Bowl two years ago and now Hobert’s understudy, also got considerable playing time. He was 11 for 18 for 96 yards.

Hobert’s run, his only carry of the game, was the longest of his career. His previous best was 35 yards.

It was the first time a Washington quarterback led the team in rushing since Chris Chandler rushed for 72 yards in seven carries in the 1985 Freedom Bowl against Colorado.

“I’m impressed with their program and very envious,” Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez said. “They have a good program and very good athletes.”